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Smith Wigglesworth - A Man After God's Own Heart
Note: This article was written by my son, Gavin Harper as a part of his academic studies. I believe that it is important that we teach the next generation the lessons learned from the previous generation, in an effort to ascertain and build upon their faith. May this encourage you to apprehend all that God has for you.
“If God has any type of hall of fame up in heaven, Smith Wigglesworth is definitely going to be in it.” - Stanley Frodsham
Smith Wigglesworth was born in 1859 in Yorkshire, England. His father worked long hours for very little pay to support Smith's mother and his two brothers and one sister. When Smith was six years old he started working in the field, pulling and cleaning turnips. His hands would be sore from morning until night.
Smith's grandmother was a Wesleyan Methodist and would take him to the meetings that she attended. When he was eight, he attended a revival meeting at his grandmother’s church where the people were dancing and singing praises to God. At that moment, while he was singing with the people in the church, he believed that God loved him and died for him. He was born again and never doubted his salvation once.
Even though neither his father nor mother had a relationship with God, Smith was always seeking God with all of his heart. And, all throughout Smith’s life, God always provided exactly what he needed.
At 18, Smith became a plumber and moved to Liverpool, working during the day and ministering in his free time. He felt called to minister to young people; he often fed and cared for some of them. Hundreds were saved through his ministry. When he was in Bradford, Smith met Mary Jan Featherston (aka Polly) while they were evangelizing together. They married after Polly moved back from Scotland where she had been helping a new Salvationist.
Sm
ith and Polly worked together to evangelize the lost. They started a church in a poor part of town. Polly would preach and Smith would give the altar calls. He started praying for people and they were healed. As Smith prayed, the deaf could hear, blind were healed, people in wheelchairs would stand up and walk, and cancers were destroyed.
One of the most amazing miracles that happened while Smith was praying for someone occurred in a hospital. While Smith and a friend were praying for this woman, the woman died. So, Smith took her out of the bed and stood her up against the wall and said, “In the name of Jesus, I rebuke death.” Her whole body shook and began to tremble. Then he said, “In the name of Jesus, walk,” and she began to walk.
He began to receive invitations from all over the world for him to come and minister to the people of that country. He taught in Europe, New Zealand, Asia and many other areas. When there were too many people for Smith to pray for by himself, he would have everyone that wanted and needed healing lay hands on each other and then he would pray for them all. Hundreds would be healed at the exact same time. It was a revival! It is confirmed that over the course of Smith's life, 14 people were raised from the dead.
This powerful minister was a man after God's own heart. He died on March 12th, 1947. His ministry was based on four principles: First, read the Word of God. Second, consume the Word of God until it consumes you. Third believe the Word of God. Fourth, act on the Word."
Copyright © 2008-2015 Debbie Reynolds Harper
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